The Eliza Jane New Orleans: Review

Always on the lookout for the unique, I opted to stay at the newly minted Eliza Jane hotel, a Hyatt property, on a recent trip to New Orleans. The refurbished building, which once housed a newspaper office, has design elements that complement the beautiful New Orleans architecture that awaits outside.

It’s an exceptionally pretty hotel. There are numerous little touches that give it a lot of character. You won’t find any boring taupe hallways or monotone wallpaper. Instead, comfortable furniture and charming trappings fill the entrance and a living area beside the bar. And about that bar. Like all good hotel bars in New Orleans, it’s well stocked, and not just with the various brown and clear liquors. An assortment of bitters is on display, an easy way to confirm that a bar takes cocktails seriously.

The staff here at the Eliza Jane bar, The Press Room, are true craftsmen and craftswomen. I’ve said it before, but I think New Orleans has the best collection of hotel bars in the country. The hotel restaurant, Couvant, wasn’t yet open to the public. But fantastic food options abound in the area, so we were never left unsatiated.

The designers took great care to extend the historic motif throughout the building. The second story is lofted, allowing a peak through exposed beams to the social space below. Dark wainscoting and vintage bulbs guide guests in the interior hallways.

The room layout is simple but fairly spacious for a standard two queen in an old building. There is no closet. Instead, a rack holding robes and an ironing board sits in the far corner. It’s a little odd, but not unsightly. The furnishings are punctuated with blue and gold tones. Painted brick acts as an accent wall and brings in more of the historic theme.

In the bathroom, dark, large hexagonal tiles juxtapose the light stone vanity. The gold accents carry through to the faucet fixtures with white, horizontal tile lining the shower walls. There’s plenty of room and plenty of towels, all a Fanboy needs for a pleasant bathroom experience.

This doesn’t look or feel like a standard hotel. If you’re in a city with as much soul as New Orleans, you shouldn’t settle for cookie cutter. With its charming atmosphere and great location, I greatly enjoyed my time at the Eliza Jane. If a trip to The Big Easy is in your future, strongly consider resting your head here.